Many cities, towns, and regions in Massachusetts have completed Community Food Assessments as a tool to help improve the food system in their area. Food Policy Councils often lead or contribute to these reports, or emerge as one of the primary recommendations from the assessments. An assessment includes gathering information on what food resources are available and their location relative to public transportation, their price point, and the existence of healthy food. Assessments also gather feedback from residents about what food they eat and where they shop as well as improvements they would like to see in their food environment. Findings from these reports can identify needs in the community, and create goals and policy recommendations to improve access to healthy, affordable foods for residents.
2026 (In Progress)
- Southcoast Food Policy Council
- Springfield Food Policy Council
- Somerville Food Coalition
2025
2024
- Worcester Community Food Assessment (Worcester Food Policy Council)
- Community Food Access Assessment (Healthy Quaboag/Quaboag Valley Food Policy Council)
- Lynn Food Action Plan (Lynn Food Policy Council)
2022
- Cambrige Food Action Plan (MAPC for the Cambridge Food and Fitness Policy Council)
- A Spatial Analysis Supporting Holyoke’s Food System (The Conway School for the City of Holyoke)
- Lowell Community Food Assessment (Mill City Grows, REACH LoWELL, Greater Lowell Health Alliance)
2021
- Malden Community Food Assessment (Bread of Life, YWCA, Cambridge Health Alliance, MAPC, Malden Mass in Motion)
2019
- Berkshire County Community Food Assessment (Be Well Berkshires/Mass in Motion)
- Boston Mayor’s Food Access Agenda
- Medford Food Security Plan (Medford Food Security Taskforce)
2018
- Framingham Community Food Assessment (Metrowest Moves/Mass in Motion)
- Everett Community Food Assessment & Plan (Everett Community Growers and MAPC for City of Everett)
- Healthy Hampshire Food Access Assessment Report (Healthy Hampshire for Cooley Dickinson Health Care Healthy Communities Committee)